April 11, 2010

On Sunday April 11, 2010 from 1:30 to 4:00 PM, Blackburn Taekwon-Do hosted a Red Belt & Up training with Master Kou (7th Degree) and Mr. Steven LeGrow (5th Degree) to honor the 55th Birthday of Taekwon-Do.  The training started with cardio and conditioning drills led by Master Kou Iat Chio.  He pushed the students through various punching, kicking, push-up and sit-up exercises.  After a small break, he continued with some Patterns.  After that the training was continued by Mr. LeGrow who led the class through various sparring drills to enhance attacking and counter skills in sparring.  After the sparring session, the class had the opportunity to practice board breaking with plastic re-brakable boards.

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March 20, 2010

On Saturday March 20th TAO Technical Director Mr. Mike Morningstar was invited by Lighting Taekwon-Do and Mr. Chris Howes to conduct a 6-hour training session.  The first 2 hours of the session was for all levels and the last 4 hours were for Black Belts only.  The training covered physical conditioning, basic movements, self defence and patterns Chon-Ji through Se-Jong.  On the Sunday Mr. Howes treated Mr. Morningstar to a day of sightseeing through the beautiful Rocky Mountains, the town of Banf, Alberta and an afternoon at the outdoor Hot Springs.

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March 6, 2010

On Saturday, March 6, 2010, Blackburn Taekwon-Do hosted the 2010 Ontario Invitational Championships.  Competitors from Ontario, Quebec, Philadelphia and Connecticut came together for a day of intense competition in both individual and team competitions.  The day started with a quick demonstration and on to color belt competition.  In the afternoon the black belts competed demonstrating some great skill in patterns and sparring.  The tournament was concluded at 5:30 PM.
Blackburn Taekwon-Do would like to thank all who supported this event.

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February 20, 2010

Seven Freedom Taekwon-Do students from White Belt to Blue Belt recently attempted and were successful in their quest for new ranks.  The test was conducted by Ms. Kathy Trigger and assisted by Freedom Taekwon-Do head instrcutor Ms. Belly-Ann Villeniuve.  Congratulations on your promotions and good work promoting Taekwon-Do in the City of Cornwall.

February 20, 2010

TAO Technical Director Mr. Mike Morningstar recently conducted a 7 1/2-hour technical seminar for the students and Instructors from Oakridge TKD, Thames Valley TKD and Morningstar TKD.  Eighty participants from yellow belt to 3rd Degree Black Belt attended.

The seminar covered stretching, conditioning, basic and advanced kicking drills, patterns and finished with sparring drills.  The morning session was from 9:00am – 12:30pm and was for children yellow belt to black stripe.  The afternoon session was from 1:00pm-5:00pm for Jr. Black belts and adults yellow belt and above.

January 29-31, 2010

On Friday January 29th, TAO held our Annual General Meeting.  The meeting was very productive with all Ontario instructors in attendance.  On Saturday and Sunday January 30-31, over 80 red belt and Black Belts from New Mexico, Philadelphia, Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland attended our 4th Annual Technical Conference.  We also had a surprise visit from the Pioneer of Taekwon-Do in Canada, Grand Master Park Jong Soo.

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On the Saturday TAO Technical Director, Mike Morningstar, put everyone through the paces covering from Chon-Ji- Juche Tul.  Keeping true to the teachings of the Founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong Hi, Mr. Morningstar covered the training secrets and the proper application of techniques.  By the end of the 7hr training on Saturday, everyone was exausted but motivated in their efforts to keep Chang-Hun Taekwon-Do alive in it’s purest form.

Our special guest instructor for Sunday’s training was Master Pierre Laquerre, the technical director for the CTFI.  Master Laquerre conducted the training Sunday for 3rd dan and higher.  Master Laquerre made very clear the importance of perfecting basic techniques and ettiquette.  The warm-up consisted of some excellent exercises to remind everyone of some muscles that they forgot they had.

January 1, 2010

The Taekwon-Do Academy of Ontario would like to wish all our members a very Happy and prosperous 2010!

ITF Ontario would also like to extend a congratulations to all the Canadian Athletes that competed in Argentina.

Below are the medal results for Canada.

Sean O’Neil – GOLD – Jr Boys 2nd Dan Patterns
Phillipe Boyd – SILVER – Jr. Boys 1st Dan Patterns
Anne-Sophie Desautels – SILVER – Jr. Girls 1st Dan Patterns
Isabelle Bond – SILVER – Women’s 4th Dan Patterns
Brandi Merritt – SILVER – Women’s Special Technique Breaking
Team Canada (Women) – SILVER – Woman’s Team Patterns
Isabelle Bond, Myriam Desmarquis, Genevieve Desmarquis, Marie-Chrystine Blouin, Audrey De Ladurantane
Steven LeGrow – BRONZE – Men’s 4th Dan Patterns
Joana Reibeiro – BRONZE – Women’s 3rd Dan Patterns
Carol-Ann Blouin – BRONZE – Jr Girls Heavy Weight Sparring
Chelsea Stone – BRONZE – Women’s Light Weight Sparring
Miranda Seifert – BRONZE – Jr Girls Hyper Weight Sparring
Steven LeGrow – BRONZE – Men’s Hyper Weight Sparring

You can see videos and photos from the event at the CTFI Facebook group fro the World Championships here:

December 10, 2009

Twenty three Oakridge Taekwon-Do students from White Belt to Blue Belt recently attempted and were successful in their quest for new ranks.  The test was conducted bt TAO Technical Director Mr. Mike Morningstar and assisted by Oakridge Taekwon-Do head instrcutor Mrs. Cathy Hadubiak.  Congratulations on your promotions and good work promoting Taekwon-Do in the City of London.

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November 21, 2009

For the 8th consecutive year, TAO Technical Director Mr. Mike Morningstar conducted a 2nd degree black belt test and a 7-hour technical seminar for the Instructors and students of Cabot Taekwon-Do in St. John’s, Newfoundland.  The event was hosted by Mr. Rick Winsor, head instructor of Cabot Taekwon-Do. Participants ranged from white belt to 4th degree black belt of all ages.  Ashley and Shane Williams were successful at their attempt for 2nd dan after a grueling 4-hr test on the Friday evening.  The Saturday seminar covered stretching, conditioning, basic and advanced kicking drills and patterns.  For the last hour all black belts in attendence were taken through Kwang-Gae up to Juche Tul.  Both Mr. Morningstar and Mr. Winsor are planning a joint training between their Dojangs in 2010 for the 9th annual seminar.

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